Taxpayer Services Division
1600 W Monroe St. Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $80,000 

Grade: 3

Closing Date: 6/30/26

The Lead Attorney 4 serves as team lead, subject matter expert, and an escalation point-of-contact for the Tax Analysts in the Transaction Privilege Tax Policy unit, which provides legal advice to the Department in Transaction Privilege Tax, Municipal Privilege Tax and Excise Tax. The lead Attorney also provides peer mentoring to Attorney 3s and Tax Analysts in the unit. The lead attorney provides Department-wide legal support by researching, analyzing and interpreting tax-related statutes, rules, and case law; drafts private taxpayer rulings, notices, general rulings and procedures, and other documents as necessary; researches, analyzes, and prepares recommendations for new statutory changes to tax law, and drafts administrative rules regarding TPT and Excise Tax. The lead attorney may provide back-up support to Tax Analysts and Attorney 3s in responding to the most complex information letter requests, as needed.

This position may be available for remote work within Arizona.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Lead

• Serves as a lead for the TPT Tax Policy team to include:
  
• Supports team performance as subject-matter expert and is the first point of escalation for TPT Tax Analysts and Attorney 3s
  
• Collaborate with Administrator and Deputy Assistant Director in coordinating general team work assignments

Legal Advice & Service Delivery

• Prepares accurate appropriate responses to technical questions from the Department and other governmental agencies.
  
• Prepares taxpayer information rulings and private taxpayer rulings in response to the public for reliance by that person upon
  the Department's position or determination regarding transaction privilege tax, municipal privilege tax, excise tax.

Research, Analysis & Recommendations

• Researches issues on technical matters for analysis, interpretation and possible alternative action Makes
  and provides accurate determinations, conclusions and policy recommendations.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets pending and new legislation in order to prepare guidelines, notices, summaries, policy

Agency Compliance

• Remains current on all laws, regulations, policies, and best practices related to taxation through regular engagement in activities such as: self-directed research, conferring with other practitioners and technical experts; subscriptions to regulatory/legal/industry newsletters and briefs; membership industry associations and attendance at meetings/events; and or participation in training and others continuing education opportunities.

Continuous Improvement

• Actively contributes to team and individual effectiveness through the following: -
  
• Attends staff meetings and huddles of work unit or district; and may cascade and track information as indicated
  
• Completes all required training in a timely manner.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of legal brief and memorandum drafting standards
  
• Working knowledge of administrative/agency law
  
• Working knowledge of Model City Tax Code and Municipal Privilege taxation
  
• Working knowledge of federal and state statutes, codes, ordinances, regulations, rulings, and procedures pertaining to excise taxes

Skill

• Superb verbal, written, and listening communication skills
  
• Superb persuasive and expository oral and written communications skills for a variety of audiences
  
• Excellent organization and time management skills enabling progress on multiple projects simultaneously and working in high-pressure
  situations
  
• Strong proficiency in the English language and with business, legal, and professional writing
  
• Strong meeting organization and facilitation skills using agenda, visual materials/handouts as needed
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and demeanor
  
• Proficient in the use of a PC in a Windows environment; in the use of the Internet; in the use of MS Office Applications such as Outlook, Word and Excel, PowerPoint; and in the use of Google Suite applications such as Gmail, Sheets, Docs, and Drive.

Ability

• Ability to clear a comprehensive background and clearance process that includes an Arizona tax compliance verification, and a criminal
  background check through the FBI via level one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
  
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and also participate collaboratively as part of a team of non-attorney audit and compliance staff
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with staff and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds
  
• Ability to effectively draft deliverables utilizing proper grammar, business/legal writing styles, and Bluebook citation format
  
• Ability to distill legal analyses and objectives into legislative bill language
  
• Ability to lead and participate in structured problem-solving (e.g., preparing root cause analysis and countermeasures)
  
• Ability to quickly analyze facts and legal issues, distinguish them, and succinctly but accurately relay them to a wide variety of audiences
  
• Ability to establish, articulate, and follow through on tasks and goals, and communicate challenges to completion of tasks in a timely and clear
  manner to manager
  
• Ability to work in a confidential manner, ensuring information is shared with internal and external
  

Education & Experience:
Any combination that meets the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA); typical ways KSAs are obtained may include but are not limited to: a relevant
degree from an accredited college or university such as a Doctoral Degree (J,D., Ph.D., Ed.D.), training, coursework, and work experience relevant to
the assignment.

Experience with mentoring colleagues. Working TPT knowledge.

The final candidate will be required to abide by the the following pre-employment checks:

• Employment Verification and Reference Checks
  
• State and Federal Criminal Background Check, including fingerprinting
  
• Arizona Tax Filing Records Check
  
• If applicable, ASEDRA Authorized Driver Identification Check
  

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

The State of Arizona provides a world class comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
  
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
  
• 10 paid holidays per year
  
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
  
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
  
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
  
• Deferred compensation plan
  
• Wellness plans
  
• Tuition Reimbursement
  
• Stipend Opportunities
  
• Infant at Work Program
  
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
  
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
  
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
Top ranked Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) provides 100% employer matched contributions (enrollment eligibility will be effective after 27 weeks of State employment). ASRS provides a lifelong benefit based on years of service earned, or worked, and your ending salary.

Learn more about ASRS at: https://www.azasrs.gov/content/new-and-prospective-members.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADOR Talent Team at tartenian@azdor.gov

*The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.